Dug My BEST in 20 Years Today

UPDATE IN REPLY #102! It appears that the example of the PB countermark on my coin was UNIQUE as of 2003--hoping for more information on whether any have been recovered since!

Hello All,

I am still shaking from the find I just made, even though some hours have passed. I had metal detecting dreams last night. Was surprised I didn't wake to find a dig hole in my mattress!

Went out with Diggergirl to a site where she wanted to dig an old bottle trash pit. I got that excavation process started with her, and left her there happily recovering bottles.

But the cane fields were calling me, and I just couldn't wait to get the F75 fired up and get in there. I didn't have high hopes, because the signs were turn-of-the-century, which is usually a bust down here in South Louisiana, due to the economic destruction of the civil war and Reconstruction period, followed immediately by the collapse of the depression. Plus, I really prefer CW-era and earlier finds. Just more history there, and more interest to me.

At any rate, I got going and to my surprise dug a couple Civil War bullets right off (dopped burnside and a .69 cal round ball). Picked up an 1890 IH right on top of the ground that beeped at me as I walked by. But I wasn't prepared for what I dug next! It was a quarter of an 8Reales. I had wanted a Big 8 forever, and had seen Hill Billy dig FOUR of them in Old Kentucky, and my digging buddy down here dug one last year! While I was really happy for them, I wanted one for the collection.

Well...it gets better! The cut coin has the coveted Planter's Bank New Orleans counterstamp! One of these was featured in Western & Eastern Treasures Magazine Best Finds issue this year, and they normally sell for $4,000-$6,000.00! An especially nice condition counterstamp of the same type recently sold for over $9,000: http://legacy.stacks.com/Lot/ItemDetail/4183

Enjoy the video and photos. I have a photo below of the Western & Eastern write-up in the Best Finds issue, but information on this rare counterstamp is readily available online as well.

Parts of three solid silver spoons:

1890 IH was a nice surprise:

Nice 1913 Barber Dime

And the cut 8Reales:

The "PB" stamp is different on the one I dug than any others I've seen (an oval on mine vs a circle with chain border on the others). Wonder if that's a new variety of the counterstamp?

All the digs, not including the brass crappe (recycling!) and bucket of scrap iron.

It's nice to finally hit a BIG find. I knew one of us would dig one sooner or later. Even though I still want to dig a gold coin, IMO this is better than a gold coin, not only in terms of value, but also in history.

Any part of a 8 reales is a good find, with a counterstamp makes it a great find! I love counter stamped coins and tokens, they have a unique history all on their own, much more than the coin they originally were.
Super find!

Any part of a 8 reales is a good find, with a counterstamp makes it a great find! I love counter stamped coins and tokens, they have a unique history all on their own, much more than the coin they originally were.
Super find!

Very true. It's also nice to feel the heft of that silver. Aside from digging a US half or dollar, there's nothing else like it--and even the US coins cannot compete with the history in most cases.

Hope I'm not getting ahead of myself, but many congrats Buck on what should without a doubt be your banner find #4. That's an awesome piece even without the counterstamp. But with it I'd call that a historically significant find. I know Diggergirl's efforts got lost in all the excitement, but was curious as to how she did in that pit.

Hope I'm not getting ahead of myself, but many congrats Buck on what should without a doubt be your banner find #4. That's an awesome piece even without the counterstamp. But with it I'd call that a historically significant find. I know Diggergirl's efforts got lost in all the excitement, but was curious as to how she did in that pit.

She got a couple of slicks and one embossed medicine, along with an ink well and some pieces we are going to try and reconstruct.

If folks will nominate, this one does belong up top. Been a while since my last banner find, for sure. But either way I'm thrilled to dig it, and the banner doesn't add to or detract from that excitement one bit.

Wooo Hoooo Buckles on an AWESOME find . . . . .a part of a 8 reales with Nawleans COUNTERSTAMP!!! I know you can't wait to get back ASAP! It's amazing to me how we can hunt an area and then find a find of a lifetime in the same area. It just goes to show you, no area is really hunted-out. CONGRATULATIONS, and now go find some more!!!
Breezie